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Fire crews were dispatched to the area, but water was no match for the level of fire.

“(The) problem is the apparatus we had here trying to dry pull from the hydrants and stuff,” said Vandergrift No. 2 Fire Department Chief Steve Potoka. “We just didn’t have enough pressure coming up from the hills and getting the adequate water that we needed for the fire load. We did have one hydrant that wouldn’t open.”

By daybreak, weary firefighters made sure no hotspots erupted. Brian Bielek lost his home in the fire.

“(I) hurry up and ran upstairs and got my wife and daughter awake, and she grabbed the dog, and we all got out of our house,” he said.

Rubble was all that was left of three homes Saturday night. Two other homes were severely damaged.

“It’s a small neighborhood,” said neighbor Douglas Bruce. “We’re all neighbors and your heart bleeds for them, and there’s nothing you can do. They lost photographs and things they’ll never be able to replace and that’s probably the worst thing.”

Three firefighters were injured in the fire.

A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Officials said Friday a man was told by Vandergrift police earlier in the day to stop burning in his yard as it violated borough ordinance. Around 10:30 p.m. Friday, the fire started at his home and spread to his neighbors' homes. No one is charged with starting the fire, but officials called it "suspicious."

Since Saturday, residents in Vandergrift and neighboring communities have dropped off more than 10,000 items to the Franklin Avenue Church of God.

"I couldn't imagine trying to rebuild my whole life, so anything I can do for these families I am most certainly willing to do," said Volunteer Jackie Broda.

Anyone interested in dropping off clothes, shoes, toys, toiletries or non-perishable food items can do so from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. through Jan. 3 at the Franklin Avenue Church of God. Anything the families do not take will be sold during a rummage sale at the church on Jan. 11. Proceeds from the sale will go directly to the victims.

St. Gertrude Parish in Vandergrift will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Jan. 12.